The USDA says this year's corn yield will be the lowest in 17 years.

And in even more sobering news for ranchers, the nation's rangeland and pastures are in even worse shape, with three-fifths rated in poor to very poor shape. That means hay and feed grains will be even more expensive for ranchers trying to maintain their herds through the winter.

Hermosa rancher Rick Fox says, "Some of the older producers say they're just not gong to go out and look for pasture or even hay. At $200 a ton, that's getting up there. That's historic highs for the area. There's just no way a guy's going to make this thing work at $200 a ton."

Corn prices have risen more than 60 percent in the past seven weeks as the worst drought since the 1930s continues to dry out the Midwest and the Southwest.

-Al Van Zee